Learn me: 1973 Impala

I know there's some B-body nuts here.

Once again, the same used car lot that has the cool stuff, I spotted out of the corner of my eye, a flat black old something with red wheels. I instantly pull in and catch a glimpse, I see its a early seventies Impala, satin black, red C/K wheels with beauty rings. It's parked in line with the cars on the back lot, but it wouldn't surprise me if it belongs to a salesman, so I think no more of it.

Later, I show it to my BIL, who falls in love with it. He's the 16 year old we've been shopping for. Turns out it does belong to a salesman, but it's a toy and he's trying to clear out some space. It belonged to his in-laws, and after they passed he inherited it. 70 thousand original miles, it's a two door hardtop, was booger green. Now is a satin black, and has glasspacks. 350, automatic, and a TON of fun to drive. It just gliiiiiides.

Now, I know the 1973 350 was nothing to write home to mom about, but I know these cars have potential. Mild motor, shift kit, posi and POW awesome cruiser!

Being 5000 feet long and having it's own zip code, would you consider it safe for a 16 year old kid?

I'm getting a tax return that would cover the 3400 asking price, but I don't think SWMBO would be impressed with a big land yacht taking up the entire driveway. The smarter thing would be to pay of debt but I really like this toy. We originally went to look for my BIL, but then I drove it

Enable!

Other than the gas mileage, there isn't really a downside. With luck, the green paint wasn't sanded, and the flat black will all fall off...

I think it's probably fine for a 16yo, dependant on what kind of head he has on his shoulders. It's going to win any front/rear impact joust, has headrests, I'd imagine a collapsible steering column... Could use three point belts, and I have no idea how these are for side impact(something I never cared about my wife and I were each violently T-boned within a week of each other).

He'd be his own worst enemy, I'd suspect. As long as the "no ABS, no TC, no airbags, weighs a trillion lbs, not a sports handler" mindset is retained, I don't see any reason why he wouldn't do ok.

"Interesting" looking car. The only bad part is that old "conventional wisdom" about cars from the '70s: DON'T buy any domestic built in 1973, they have crappy mileage (worse than a similar '72 or '74) and the bumpers are usually the worse of any '70s car.

The last '70s Impala I remember driving was a 1970 Impala 4 door sedan. I remember being mildly surprised (I was, and still am a bigger fan of Ford and Mopar products) as I expected it to be as bad as folks who hate Chevys say they should be...it wasn't. The '70 Impala is at least, and in many respects the equal or better of an equivalent Ford or Mopar.

It probably has, or had, 3-point belts, but in 73 they MIGHT (I was there, but I forget) still have been that weird separate-belt arrangement. In any event, 40 years of decay means a new set of belts might be nice. And speaking of 40 years of decay, this is a 16-year-old you care about, so... look at brakes, brake lines, fall-offy stuff in the front end, etc.

Apart from that, go for it. He sure isn't going to lose a physical encounter with a Honda. I believe there were some factory suspension upgrades, too, though they weren't as mainstream as they got in the next generation (the famous 77-up F41 option.)

If he starts making noises about 24-inch wheels, disown him.

friend of mine had almost the exact same car. the 73 does have a 3 point belt.. but it is in two seperate belts. One for the lap and one for shoulder restraint.

I replaced the engine in my friends.. for such a big car, there was an amazing lack of space in the engine compartment to get your heads between the wheel wells and the heads.

Other than that.. they are not bad to drive. A little floaty in that luxobarge way.. but track straight.

The 120hp the 350 had stock will not set the world on fire

awesome car, but the 71 is by far the best looking 71-76. the concave rear glass and 1 year only louvered trunklid are awesome.

i bought a 71 caprice 2 door when i was 16 and it too once was puke green. still had puke green awesome interior, but it was primer so i primered black racing stripes on it, dropped in a nice 350/th350, cherrybombs right off the headers, and had a blast for a few years.

I wouldn't hand that to a 16 year old, ever.

Have him buy a Camry or Accord for his 1st car and be done with it.

Buy it. Give the kid something to set himself apart from all his peers in their Asian appliances.

that thing's friggin awesome. I'd drive the hell outta it.

the 73 I talked about was my friend's first car. He is the worlds worst driver and he never managed to kill it... no matter how many times he tried.

He named his "vlad"

Can he afford to fill up the car? With a heavy right foot, a v8, and a full living room to move around that is going to be a thirsty car.

A smaller nova, malibu, or fairmont might be a little easier on the wallet, cheaper, and still give that old car feel.

forzav12 wrote: Buy it. Give the kid something to set himself apart from all his peers in their Asian appliances.

Exactly what I had in mind, your first car is a rite of passage. People aren't impressed when your first car was a Sable.

And don't worry about him donking it out, he's a skateboarder and digs heavy metal, I've sent him down the right path. That's him in the purple hoodie.

Compared to today's cars it's a stone ax. :) However, that means it's simple and durable. The big thing is rust - it looks clean but make sure it's in good shape underneath. Not just the body either, check the frame, suspension, brakes, and fuel/brake lines.

I drove a '71 Catalina for many years; different brand but similar concept, it was a great car and pretty much trouble free until it finally died of terminal rust.

Nitroracer wrote: Can he afford to fill up the car? With a heavy right foot, a v8, and a full living room to move around that is going to be a thirsty car. A smaller nova, malibu, or fairmont might be a little easier on the wallet, cheaper, and still give that old car feel.

That's why my friend got rid of his...

BoostedBrandon wrote:

forzav12 wrote: Buy it. Give the kid something to set himself apart from all his peers in their Asian appliances.

Exactly what I had in mind, your first car is a rite of passage. People aren't impressed when your first car was a Sable. And don't worry about him donking it out, he's a skateboarder and digs heavy metal, I've sent him down the right path. That's him in the purple hoodie.

He looks like he knows how to keep his pants pulled up, too. That moves him ahead of most of the boneheads out here.

My parents had a '73 (4 door, white top, grass green metallic paint) most of my childhood. I never got to drive it. However, I did get to drive a similarly spec'd Plymouth Fury III when I began driving. I can't see this being any poorer of a choice for a teen than the Fury.

Our Impala didn't have real 3 point seatbelts as we know them now. They were the kind with the shoulder strap that latched on and had to be manually adjusted. I don't remember us using them.

Aside from that, this is pretty awesome.

mad_machine wrote: The 120hp the 350 had stock will not set the world on fire

That thing only has 120hp???

Regardless, still a rad first car. Also, I think if a kid is driving something nice, they tend to appreciate it/treat it better than something "disposable".

it's too nice for a 16 year old.. find him one just like it that is more rusty, barely runs, and needs work.. then make him fix it. it builds character.

that being said, it might be the perfect car for you..

All I can say is this... I bought a 73 Impala Station Wagon with 58k original, a 454, A/C and that's it.

Aside from the 8mpg, I would give my left nut to own that car again. What a big soft boat. Went cross-country twice with it.

Make a deal on it, buy it. B-body parts for chevy are mostly interchangeable from 71 to 97. Think 96 Impala SS.... :)

like everyone else says, if you can keep gas in it, it'll be cool. Stiffer springs and sway bars would be a cheap suspension upgrade. At least throw on some fresh shocks and modern brake pads. That thing is seriously cool. Amazing what a little paint can do..

Luke wrote:

mad_machine wrote: The 120hp the 350 had stock will not set the world on fire

That thing only has 120hp??? Regardless, still a rad first car. Also, I think if a kid is driving something nice, they tend to appreciate it/treat it better than something "disposable".

If it is the 4bbl 350, it should be 175 hp. Easy to get more out of it on the cheap. Throw on some Vortec heads (96-99 truck 350), aluminum intake, and mild cam and it will wake up. Could toss in some lower gears and an overdrive auto and get some decent mpg. My 73 Monte Carlo used to get 17-18 mpg on the highway and about 14-15 mpg in town bone stock.

Having friends along for a drive is usually a dangerous recipe and the two doors should limit that. Wait...that front seat can probably hold just enough friends to make it dangerous. Never mind..

I had a 70 for years. Factory it had the 3bbl 350 which I dropped an edelbrock intake and 4bbl on, then retuned the advance on the distributor. It was a stone-reliable car and would even get 16 mpg on a steady cruise. It had enough HP to be fun and didn't handle nearly as badly as one would expect. Hotchkis among others made sway bars for it the size of drainpipes. The only issue I ever had was keeping the AC fixed, but i was always too broke to do it right.

Mileage will hurt, but not too much worse than an SUV. He'll ding up the corners figuring out how to drive something so big. I had drums all the way around on mine and that was a scary prospect. Even with disks the brakes could be a safety issue for him. that much barge does not stop easily. Also, once you hang the back end out it takes FOR-EVER to get it back in. It's a huge slow-motion dance.

that car is WIDE inside. I stand at 5 foot 11 and could lay across the back seat with my head on one armrest and my feet on the other and be perfectly comfy.

What I always found funny, for such a BIG car.. we always lost it in parking lots. my friend would part out in the hinterlands and when we came back, it was always surrounded by SUVs

As for 120hp.. my friends was completely smogged with the small carb. It sounded awesome at WOT though.

My friend is also the worlds worst driver. He has killed every car he has owned through mulitple dents and dings and lack of maintance... but never managed to dent or kill his